Is Ricky Gervais Going to Join 'The Muppets' Sequel Too?

After three years of poking fun at the weirdness Hollywood has to offer while hosting the Golden Globes, it looks like Ricky Gervais is going to be hanging out with a completely different group of weirdos. The actor is in talks to join The Muppets 2, according to a Hollywood Reporter report.

Comedian Ricky Gervais is in negotiations to star in The Muppets sequel as the Disney movie’s human lead character, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter. The follow-up movie to the 2011 hit, which starts production in January, is a European-centric adventure. And while the film will be populated by a slew of cameos, there are three main human roles. THR reported Dec. 7 that Ty Burrell, one of the stars of ABC's Modern Family, is on board as a lazy Interpol inspector. Gervais, however, would play the lead -- as much as one can be a lead opposite Kermit, Fozzie and Miss Piggy -- with his stature being compared to the role played by Jason Segel in the 2011 movie. But the nature of Gervais' character is unknown because the script is being kept secret. Also unclear is whether the part calls for singing, a requirement for the first movie (but here's hoping).

I'm torn on Gervais. There's no argument that he's an extremely talented, creative and funny guy, but what kind of passion would he bring to The Muppets 2? Jason Segel worked as the lead in The Muppets because he was working to bring back a franchise that meant a great deal to him. What do the Muppets mean to Gervais? If it's just another celebrity collecting a paycheck, it doesn't have the same weight.